BASE HEADER

I am writing to OBJECT to the potential allocation of site GTalt01 (Brookside Willows Site, Banbury Road, Warwick) as a possible site for the Gypsy and Traveller community.

1. The site is wholly unsuitable for such use as according to the Environment Agency landfill database, the site has previously accepted material which is likely to be contaminated. The Environment Agency information confirms the site has in the past received both industrial and commercial waste, but most importantly, has received Special waste which is defined as "waste that has hazardous properties in the Special Waste Regulations 1996. Such properties may be flammable, irritant, toxic, harmful, carcinogenic or corrosive".
For the above reason alone, the site is not suitable for human habitation even on a temporary basis.

This fact was confirmed by Mr Dave Barber, WDC, to myself in an email dated 25 June 2013, in which he states "this was a former landfill site and is therefore contaminated land...... under these circumstances, the site is not suitable to be used as as gypsy/traveller site.... it is most unlikely that our position on this would change".

I understand that floating foundations has been mentioned to overcome the above but this would be extremely costly and surely would be uneconomical for 10 sites.

2. Banbury Road is one of the most important routes into Warwick town centre and provides historic views to the castle and St Mary's church in the town centre. The importance of this had been recognised in the most recent version of the local plan which preserved the area to the south and east of Banbury Road free from development. This is a recognition of the case made by English Heritage and others of the importance of this area to our heritage. What message would it send to people visiting Warwick that the first thing they encounter would be a gypsy and traveller site located in such a prominent position, in an area of considerable landscape and heritage importance? It seems an irrational proposal in the light of the council's decision to preserve the adjoining area free of development and the recommendation of the Heritage Consultative Committee to extend the Warwick Conservation Area to include this area.

I strongly OBJECT to the inclusion of the Brookside Willows Site as a potential gypsy and traveller site and would hope that the Warwick District Council will see sense and remove this from the sites under consideration.